16 Surprising New Uses For Old Oranges

It turns out oranges are more than just a great-tasting source of vitamin C. Here are 16 brilliant ways to use oranges all around the house!

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What to do with old oranges? Make kindling!

Can’t seem to get that campfire started? Dried orange and lemon peels are a far superior choice for use as kindling than newspaper. Not only do they smell better and produce less creosote than newspaper, but the flammable oils found inside the orange peels enable them to burn much longer than paper.

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Turn old oranges into pomanders

Pomanders have been used for centuries to fill small spaces with a delightful ­fragrance as well as to combat moths. They’re also incredibly easy to make. Take a bunch of cloves and stick them into an orange, covering the whole ­surface. Now suspend your pomander using a piece of string, wool or monofilament fishing line inside a wardrobe or cupboard, and it will keep the space smelling fresh for years. Don’t miss these other home hacks to get rid of odours!

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Use old oranges to keep cats off your lawn

Are the neighbour’s cats still ­mistaking your lawn for their litter box? Gently point them elsewhere by making a mixture of orange peels and coffee grounds and distributing it around the cats’ “old haunts.” If they don’t take the hint, lay down a second batch and try moistening it with a bit of water.

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Use old oranges to show ants the door

Want to get rid of the ants in your garden, on your patio and along the foundations of your home? Reach for an old orange! In a blender, make a smooth puree of a few orange peels in 1 cup of warm water. Slowly pour the solution over and into anthills to send the little pests packing. Repeat the process if they return. Find out how to get rid of 10 of the most disgusting house bugs.

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Use old oranges as mosquito repellent

If you’re not crazy about the idea of rubbing onions all over yourself to keep away mosquitoes (yes, onions are actually a DIY insect repellent!), you may be happy to know that you can often get similar results by rubbing fresh orange or lemon peels over your exposed skin. It’s said that mosquitoes and gnats are totally repulsed by either scent. Here are nine more things that keep mosquitos away.

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Use old oranges to rid of the smell of garbage

“My grandma used to put the orange peels down the disposal after removing them from the orange,” says an editor from our sister site Taste of Home. “It made the drain smell very fresh and got rid of any bad odours.” Don’t miss 25 more cleaning tips that actually work.

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Deodorize your refrigerator with old oranges

Orange peels won’t just eliminate the smell of trash but can clear up any lingering odours in your fridge. Merry Maids, a home cleaning service, suggests placing an orange peel filled with salt in your fridge to keep it smelling fresh. Cut the orange in half, scoop out the pulp, fill the rind with salt and just tuck it away on the back of a shelf. Here are more clever uses for salt all around the house.

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Make a natural cleaner from old oranges

You can make a natural cleaner for your home just using oranges and vinegar. Cut off as much of the white part of the rind as possible, says Nate Masterson, head of natural product development for Maple Holistics. Then put the peels in a jar of vinegar and let it sit for two weeks, shaking the container once a day. After two weeks is up, strain the liquid into another container. “This natural cleaner has an extremely long shelf-life and smells delicious,” Masterson says. “Plus it can safely and effectively kill germs.” Check out 30+ more brilliant uses for vinegar all around the house.

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What to do when life hands you old oranges? Make lemonade!

No, really… This is the perfect recipe for summer. You can try it by getting the recipe here.

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Freshen up your home with old oranges

“Boiling orange peel on the stove top with spices like cinnamon and clove is the BEST way to make your home smell amazing,” suggests one Taste of Home editor. You should also get to know the best air cleaning plants for the home, according to NASA.

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Exfoliate your skin with oranges

Dip a cut orange in coarse, raw sugar and gently scrub your skin with it to exfoliate. “The coarse sugar removes the dead skin and oils and juices from the orange soften the skin,” one Taste of Home editor says. You can try this on your face, hands and feet.

Clean up grime with old oranges

Squeeze orange peels over “sticky” spots caused by spills or the residue from stickers. “The natural oils in the rind are a great cleaner,” says one Taste of Home editor. “The oils released from the peel will help to loosen the grime.” If that doesn’t work, try using a pencil eraser—it makes quick work of sticker residue!

Spice up your salads with oranges

Improve your skin with old oranges

Rubbing the peels of oranges on your skin and leaving them there for a few minutes will leave your skin sticky, but totally fresh. The peel actually has more vitamin C than the orange itself, according to Dr. Catherine Chang, MD of Cassileth Plastic Surgery. “Although citrus fruits are a rich natural source of vitamin C, which can free your body of free radicals, not many people realize that the common orange can be really good for exfoliating and detoxifying skin,” Chang says. “This is because oranges are amongst the least acidic citrus fruits, although they still contain vitamins C and E as well as antioxidants and zinc which can help smoothen skin. So if you have acne-prone or oily skin, it’s perfect for you.”

Make sachets

Just like boiling an orange peel can fill your home with great scents, you can dry the peels out and make them last even longer as an air freshener. “The peel is the most fragrant part of the orange, so why not put it to good use in your house,” says nutritionist Lisa Richards, creator of the Candida diet. She suggests drying out orange peels with a dehydrator or by baking them at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Then grind the peels up and put them in a sachet that can be placed anywhere around your home. Try adding cinnamon stick or clove essential oil for a more interesting smell. Don’t miss these DIY tricks to freshen up your car.

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Candy orange peels for better desserts

One Taste of Home editor recommends saving orange peels and candying them. You can then use the candied peels to top desserts or add them to baked goods for additional flavour and texture. Next, find out 45 clever uses for aluminum foil you’ll wish you knew sooner.

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